STATE COLLEGE, Pa. — We’ve made it through the latest transfer portal window, and while Penn State can still add players, the roster hasn’t been significantly altered. This was the expectation.
Let’s dive into where the two-deep stands headed into the next phase of offseason workouts. Here’s my best guess of the Nittany Lions depth chart at this point, including a few projections on where coveted transfers will slot in. We’ll dissect the defense and a fascinating special teams turnover later in the week.
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Quarterback (3)
Starter: Drew Allar (So.)
Backup: Beau Pribula (R-Fr.)
Depth: Jaxon Smolik (Fr.)
It’s been framed as a quarterback competition, but anyone following closely knows that’s standard verbiage from the head coach anytime Penn State has had a new starter. The staff was not going to just hand Allar the job, but the former five-star prospect was Sean Clifford’s backup all of last season and appears ready to step into the spotlight. With only three scholarship quarterbacks, Penn State would be open to adding a veteran, but it’s undoubtedly a challenge getting someone to join a team that has its starter in place. If the right quarterback comes along and understands that Allar will very likely be the guy for at least the next two seasons, then Penn State could add a player. If not, the Nittany Lions are still in a good spot.
Running back (5)
Starter: Nick Singleton (So.) or Kaytron Allen (So.)
Backup: Trey Potts (R-Jr., transfer from Minnesota)
Depth: Tank Smith (R-Sr., walk-on), Cam Wallace (Fr.), London Montgomery (Fr.)
I’m generally opposed to putting “or” atop any position on a depth chart, but this is the one spot where it’s most applicable. Penn State has two studs, and both could start for just about any team in college football. The talented sophomores made that clear last season, and their emergence basically pushed out the rest of the running backs, with three scholarship players departing.
The addition of Potts, a Williamsport, Pa., native who rushed for 474 yards in 2022, was significant because there was a drop-off between the co-starters and the rest of the group. Penn State loves to rotate its backs to keep them fresh, but just how much (or little) Potts factors into that rotation will be sorted out in the preseason. There will not be a ton of extra carries for the No. 3 back, but Penn State is now poised to withstand any blows that might come to the talented duo throughout a long season.
Kent State transfer Dante Cephas could slide right into the starting lineup. (Maria Lysaker / USA Today)Wide receivers (12)
Starters: KeAndre Lambert-Smith, slot (Jr.); Harrison Wallace III (R-So.); Dante Cephas (R-Jr., transfer from Kent State)
Backups: Liam Clifford, slot (R-So.); Omari Evans (So.); Malik McClain (Jr.)
Depth: Kaden Saunders, slot (R-Fr.); Cristian Driver, slot (R-Fr.); Malick Meiga (Jr.); Tyler Johnson (R-Fr.); Anthony Ivey (R-Fr.); Carmelo Taylor (Fr.)
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Lambert-Smith and Wallace separated from the pack in the spring. Evans flashed in the spring game working with the starters and will play a significant role. But I’m making a significant projection here and placing Cephas — who isn’t even on campus yet — among the top three. He was one of the top transfer wide receivers after catching 130 passes for 1,984 yards and 12 touchdowns in his time in the MAC.
It will no doubt be a leap for the former Penn Hills High standout, but the staff is bringing him in for a reason. The backups in the slot should be interesting too, with Saunders, a former four-star prospect, coming off a redshirt year, while Driver spent most of last season with the defensive backs. Penn State needs six receivers it feels good about. Right now, I’d say there are only four: Lambert-Smith, Wallace, Cephas and Evans. The Lions are still open to adding another receiver.
Tight end (7)
Starter: Theo Johnson (Jr.)
Backup: Tyler Warren (Jr.)
Depth: Khalil Dinkins (R-So.), Jerry Cross (R-Fr.), Mega Barnwell (Fr.), Joey Schlaffer (Fr.), Andrew Rappleyea (Fr.)
How much 12 personnel (two tight ends) will Penn State use this season? Last fall, the Nittany Lions showed the value of having three capable tight ends. If a No. 3 receiver doesn’t prove capable, Penn State will play to the strengths of this tight end group.
Penn State has two talented tight ends and needs a third to emerge. But it remains to be seen whether Johnson will face any disciplinary measures after being charged with two misdemeanors after being accused of punching a man in the face at a fraternity party in the winter. Johnson and Warren did not participate in spring ball, but Penn State knows what it has with two players it views as co-starters. That third spot is up for grabs.
Offensive line (17)
Starters: LT Olu Fashanu (Jr.), LG Landon Tengwall (R-So.), C Hunter Nourzad (R-Sr.), RG Sal Wormley (R-Sr.), RT Caedan Wallace (R-Sr.)
Backups: LT Drew Shelton (So.), LG JB Nelson (R-Jr.), C Nick Dawkins (R-Jr.), RG Vega Ioane (R-Fr.), RT Alex Birchmeier (Fr.)
Depth: Tackles J’Ven Williams (Fr.) and Chimdy Onoh (Fr.); guards Golden Israel-Achumba (R-Jr.), Ibrahim Traore (R-Jr.) and Anthony Donkoh (Fr.); centers Dominic Rulli (R-Fr., walk-on) and Ian Harvie (R-Fr., walk-on)
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Shelton started at left tackle last season and worked at both tackle spots this spring. It’ll be a camp competition at right tackle between Shelton and Wallace. For the time being, I’d give the nod to Wallace, but if Shelton gets more comfortable on the right side — which is what spring ball was all about for him — this will be a close competition. Shelton can work on either side, but for the purpose of trying to have an actual depth chart, I have Birchmeier as the right tackle reserve even though Shelton would be the next tackle up. Nourzad, entering his sixth season, started at guard last season, switched to center this offseason and could go back to guard if need be. Nelson worked at tackle and guard this spring.
The Lions have a lot of depth up front, and it’s clear they have three tackles they feel good about. Getting Tengwall back this spring after he missed most of last season due to injury is significant. Fashanu, the projected first-round pick, might be the best offensive tackle in college football. The only departure up front this spring was reserve tackle Jimmy Christ, who transferred to Virginia.
(Top photo of Kaytron Allen: Gary A. Vasquez / USA Today)
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